Full draw hands-free bow range finder

ABSTRACT

A unique bow range finder, weighing less than {fraction (1/16)} of an once, is custom calibrated for an archer&#39;s full draw distance and a specific hunted game, or traget object. A reference line and distance marker lines based on geometric calibrations using the full draw distance and known distances of spaced apart features of a game animal are imprinted on a decal or other adhesively attached sheet material. The decal, selected for full draw distance and desired game, is removably attached to an archer&#39;s current bow sighting frame. The range finder allows targets to be ranged at full draw.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to geometrical devices and inparticular to a range finder formed by using geometrical alignment toset up a vertical series of spaced parallel horizontal lines on a decalremovably applied to a bow sight frame for a particular target, thelines calibrated to enable an archer to determine a distance between thearcher and the target (usually an animal) by using the unique geometricrelationships between the archer's draw distance and the normal heightor body measurement of an animal or the height of another feature on atarget.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Bow sights are usually provided enabling an archer to line up amarker related to distance from the target with the target itself tocause the archer to elevate the bow to the angle required for launchingan arrow on the proper trajectory to be accurate in hitting the target.In such cases, the archer is required to estimate the distance to thetarget or have a foreknowledge of the distance to the target.

[0005] Many range finders have been developed, often being elaboratewith expensive technology such as optical devices with lenses, laserdevices, and other electronic range finding means. Most prior art rangefinders require manual use, which does not allow the archer to use therange finder with the bow drawn, ready to shoot an arrow.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,305,208, issued Dec. 15, 1981 to Larson, claims anew and improved sighting device and range-finder and sighting devicecombination wherein the elemental sighting devices incorporate asighting screw disposed within and through first and second separatemounting members having corresponding aligned apertures, one of thesighting members incorporating interiorly threaded means. The sightingdevices themselves are constructed and arranged for gripping or clampingonto an elongate member and are selectively adjustable thereon. In apreferred form of the invention, irregular mating surfaces of suchelongate member and the respective sighting devices used, preventinadvertent slippage of such devices on the elongate member. Thesplit-construction of the respective bodies sighting members enableusers to install easily certain range indication markings as necessary,this obviating prior manufacturing expense. Fore and aft sighting-devicemounting is provided. Vibrations during archery bow use, when such bowsincorporate the range-finder, sighting device mechanism herein, will notdisturb the unique, releasable mountings of individual sighting deviceelements on the elongate member of the unit.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,372, issued Jan. 15, 1991 to Blizzard,describes an improved sighting and range finding device for use witharchery bows and the like, and more particularly, to an integrated bowsight comprising a boxed housing having a plurality of horizontaltransparent sighting elements therein having “cross hair” sightingreferences and means for vertical adjustment. An adjustable range finderis mounted atop the bow sight housing so as to provide the user with acorrelating means between the range finder and the correct sightingelement in order to provide for a more accurate means of sighting, alongwith the capability of adjusting for different types of game animals.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,061,919, issued May 16, 2000 to Reichert,provides an effective, yet inexpensive range finder and sight guide foran archer's bow, particularly for hunting of game, such as deer. Thedevice thereof includes a frame, removably mounted to the archer's bow,having a pair of vertically oriented guide rails for slidably receivinga slide member. A pair of pivotal arms are rotatably mounted to theslide member, where each arm fixedly mounts a horizontally disposedrange pin. By manually adjusting the slide member, the respective rangepins may be moved closer or farther apart to accurately define theintended game target. Further included is a horizontally disposed sightpin, fixedly secured to the slide member, that remains intermediate toand parallel with the range pins irrespective of the vertical positionof the slide member.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,166, issued Feb. 26, 1991 to Knemeyer, showsa sight pin and top and bottom range finder pins mounted on a slidemovable vertically relative to the handle of an archery bow. The slidehas mechanism for moving the range finder pins equally toward the sightpin or away from it as the slide is moved. The amount of increase ordecrease in the spacing between the range finder pins for a given lengthof travel of the slide can be adjusted and can be different fordifferent ranges of vertical travel of the slide.

[0010] What is needed is an easy to apply range finder calibrated forthe archer that does not require use of the hands so that it can be usedwhile the bow is fully drawn.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a unique rangefinder, custom calibrated for a specific archer and a specific huntedgame, applied in the form of a decal to a bow sighting frame for anaccurate, inexpensive, easy-to-apply and easy-to-use bow range finder.

[0012] A further object of the present invention is to provide anarchery range finder which can be applied to the bow adjacent to the bowsight so that the archer may draw back the bow string while aiming at atarget or game and instantly use the range finder to determine thedistance of the target or game from the archer and then use the bowsight indicator corresponding to the distance between the archer and thetarget or game enabling the archer to be very accurate in hitting thetarget or game.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide an archeryrange finder based upon a mathematical equation which enables the rangefinder's accuracy. The mathematical equation takes into account theindividual's draw length and the standard allowable hunt sizes of gameanimals.

[0014] An additional object of the present invention is that it is avery fast, simple, yet effective hands-free range finder applied to thebackside of an archer's current bow sight weighing less than {fraction(1/16)} of an ounce so that it does not add any weight to the bow.

[0015] One more object of the present invention is quick, inexpensiveproduction of a range finder for many different animal species and formany different draw lengths.

[0016] A further object of the present invention is to provide a bowrange finder which, through usage, will enable an archer to become morecomfortable at estimating yardage to targeted animals while bow hunting.

[0017] A contributory object of the present invention is the ability torange animals while at full draw.

[0018] An extra object of the present invention is that the decals aremeant to be removable and, possibly, reusable, with packs of decals foreach draw length calibrated for specific game, enabling each archer toselect the appropriate decal for the archer's draw and also to apply thespecific decal for the type of game the archer is hunting.

[0019] In brief, the present invention attaches to the backside of anexisting bow sight. (the side of the bow sight that faces the archerwhen shooting.)

[0020] The hunter must select a decal of the present invention labeledfor the animal that the hunter intends to hunt and a draw length whichmatches the archer's draw length.

[0021] The backside of the bow sight window is cleaned of all dirt andgrease. The back of the decal is then peeled off and the decal isapplied to the existing bow sight, at the same level as the bow sight,so that the range finder of the present invention is in the same line ofsight as the bow sight. The widest gap on the decal should be positionedon the top when attaching the decal to the bow sight. The excess surfaceof the decal may be trimmed off or folded around the corners of theframe of the bow sight.

[0022] The top line is then the base line or reference line used toalign with one feature of the target or game animal, such as the back ofa game animal. Then another feature of the target or game animal whichis a known distance from the first feature, such as a belly of theanimal, is viewed adjacent to the decal to determine which other line onthe decal lines up with the second feature on the target. The distancebetween the archer and the target or game animal is indicated by thedistance calibration indicated by the second line.

[0023] Having the range finder of the present invention in the same lineof sight with the bow sighting device enables the archer to draw backthe bow to a full draw, use the range finder to determine the distanceto the animal target, and then align the appropriate yardage marker onthe sight device with the target for an accurate shot.

[0024] An advantage of the present invention is that it allows archersto hunt with confidence knowing they will accurately locate the targetanimal in terms of distance and, therefore, line up the correct sightline with the target.

[0025] Another advantage of the present invention is quick, inexpensiveproduction of a range finder for many different animal species and formany different draw lengths.

[0026] A particular advantage of the present invention is to provide anarchery range finder based upon a mathematical equation which enablesthe range finder's accuracy.

[0027] One more advantage of the present invention is that it is customcalibrated for a specific archer's draw length and a specific huntedgame.

[0028] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it is avery fast, simple, yet effective hands-free range finder decal appliedto an archer's current bow sight

[0029] Still another advantage of the present invention is that itweighs less than {fraction (1/16)} of an ounce and does not add anysignificant weight to the bow.

[0030] A contributory advantage of the present invention is the abilityto range animals while at full draw.

[0031] An extra advantage of the present invention is that the decalsare meant to be removable and, possibly, reusable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] These and other details of my invention will be described inconnection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only byway of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in whichdrawings:

[0033]FIG. 1 is a partial elevational view showing the range finderdecal being applied to a frame of a sight device on a bow;

[0034]FIG. 2 is a partial elevational view of the range finder of FIG. 1in place on the bow and being used to determine the distance to ananimal.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0035] In FIGS. 1-2, a range finder device 20 for archery bows 30 ismeant for use with the bow in a full draw position, without requiringthe use of the hands of the archer to operate the range finder device20.

[0036] In FIGS. 1-2, a sheet of material, known as the range finderdevice 20, is capable of being removably applied to an archery bow 30 ina location capable of being viewed by an archer, when the bow is at fulldraw while aiming at a target or game animal 60.

[0037] In FIG. 2, a series of spaced markings 21A-21D, on the sheet ofmaterial 20 visible to the archer, are capable of being viewedsimultaneously with a target 60. The markings 21A-21D are separated bymarking spaces geometrically calculated by a specific full draw distanceand known distance between a pair of spaced features of a specificanimal target 60 or other type of inanimate target. The marking spacesare calculated to indicate a value of the distance between the archerand a target 60 by using a first feature of the target, such as the back61 of a game animal 60 aligned with a first of the series of markings21A and then comparing a second feature of the target, such as the belly62 of the animal 60 to the aligned calibration on the series ofmarkings, such as line 21D in FIG. 2. The distance between the archerand the target 60 is indicated by the calibrated marked distance betweenthe markings 21A-21D.

[0038] In FIGS. 1-2, the sheet of material 20 is made from a strip ofimprintable material with markings imprinted thereon, such as a plasticdecal 20.

[0039] In FIGS. 1-2, the sheet of material 20 is further comprised of anadhesive surface on the side of the material opposite to the series ofmarkings. The adhesive surface is capable of attachment and removal andthe material is attachable and removable to and from the bow 30,preferably on the frame 40 of the bow sight means.

[0040] In FIGS. 1-2, the markings are fabricated of a color and contrastdistinctly visible against the sheet of material 20 and distinctlyvisible against a portion of the bow upon which the material isattached, such as the sight frame 40.

[0041] In FIGS. 1-2, the device is capable of being removably attachedto a border or frame 40 of a sighting means on the bow. Both the rangefinder device 20 and the sighting means 41 are capable of being viewedby the archer with the bow in a full draw position aimed at the targetor game animal 60.

[0042] A number of range finder devices 20 are capable of beingfabricated, each with a particular full draw calibration, and aparticular target calibration, so that the archer can select a specificrange finder device 20 calibrated for the full draw of the archer andthe intended target or game animal 60 of the archer.

[0043] In FIGS. 1-2, the markings 21A-21D comprise a series ofvertically stacked, spaced, horizontal lines 21A-21D.

[0044] In use, as shown in FIG. 2, at full draw, the archer starts byaligning the top line 21A (the back line or reference line) of the decalwith the animal's back 61. The archer then checks to see where theanimal's belly lines up with the distance marker lines 21B-21D. If thebelly lines up on the bottom distance marker line 21D (20 yard bellyline,) the animal is 20 yards away. If the belly lines up on the secondfrom bottom distance marker line 21C (30 yard belly line,) the animal is30 yards away. If the animal's belly lines up on the top distance markerline 21B (40 yard belly line,) the animal is 40 yards away. The back ofthe animal must remain aligned with the decal's top line or referenceline 21A to determine accurately where the animal's belly matches alower line. When the animal's belly is halfway between the 30 and 40yard lines, the distance to the animal will measure 35 yards away. Thisworks in the same way for an animal that is 25 yards away. If the bellyline is slightly over or under a yardage line, the animal is slightlyover or under the yardage that coincides with that line. In FIG. 2, thebelly 62 is lined up with the bottom distance marker line 21D indicatingthe animal 60 is 20 yards away.

[0045] The appropriate sight marker 41, for 20 yards in this case, isthen lined up with the desired target point on the game animal, the bowstring released and the arrow launched from its rest 50 to strike thetarget.

[0046] It is understood that the preceding description is given merelyby way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and thatvarious modifications may be made thereto without departing from thespirit of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A range finder device for archery bows for usewith the bow in a full draw position without requiring use of the handsof the archer to operate the range finder device, the device comprising:a sheet of material capable of being removably applied to an archery bowin a location capable of being viewed by an archer with the bow in acondition of a full draw on a string-type component of the bow whileaiming at a target; a series of spaced markings on the sheet of materialvisible to the archer, the markings capable of being viewingsimultaneously with a target, the markings being separated by markingspaces geometrically calculated on a specific full draw distance and aknown size of a pair of spaced features of a specific target, themarking spaces calculated to indicate a value of the distance betweenthe archer and a target by a first feature of the target with a first ofthe series of markings and comparing a second feature of the target withthe other of the series of markings to determine the distance betweenthe archer and the target as indicated by the distance between themarkings.
 2. The range finder device of claim 1 wherein the sheet ofmaterial comprises a strip of imprintable material and the markings areimprinted thereon.
 3. The range finder device of claim 2 wherein thesheet of material further comprises an adhesive surface on a side of thematerial opposite to the series of markings, the adhesive surface beingcapable of attachment and removal and the material is attachable to thebow and removable from the bow.
 4. The range finder device of claim 3wherein the markings are fabricated of a color and contrast distinctlyvisible against the sheet of material and distinctly visible against aportion of the bow upon which the material is attached.
 5. The rangefinder device of claim 2 wherein the sheet of material is a plasticdecal.
 6. The range finder device of claim 2 wherein the device iscapable of being removably attached to a border of a sighting means on abow and both the range finder device and the sighting means are capableof being viewed by the archer with the bow in the full draw positionaimed at the target.
 7. The range finder device of claim 2 wherein anumber of range finder devices are capable of being fabricated with eachwith a particular full draw calibration and a particular targetcalibration so that the archer can select from the number of rangefinder devices a specific range finder device calibrated for the fulldraw of the archer and the intended target of the archer.
 8. The rangefinder device of claim 2 wherein the markings comprise a series ofvertically aligned spaced horizontal lines and the range finder deviceis capable of being removably mounted on a frame of a bow sight means.